The Specialized Sirrus range seems to get better every year. Since their first introduction in the 1980s, they have been seen as the standard for sporty hybrid bikes that everybody had to beat. The range of components and specifications was wide. So everyone regardless of budget could find a Sirrus to suit.
We have chosen to pick out three from the 2011 range - the Sirrus, Sirrus Sport and Sirrus Elite.
These are the features common across the range.
Moderate pricing. From £350 to £550 ($420 to $650) depending on the quality of the components.
The A1 Premium Aluminium frame is featured on all in the range.
All feature V-brakes with EZ Fire shifters, triple chainrings, double-wall rims with all-terrain tyres and flat pedals.
Perhaps the major component to show variation across the range is the front fork - steel blade on the Sirrus, aluminium on the Sport and carbon/aluminium on the Elite. The elastomer inserts on the Elite cut down further on road vibration. So your money pays for greater agility and smoothness together with a decrease in weight from 11.9 kg down to 10.6 kg.
In addition there's an increase in the quality of the Shimano drivetrain components across the Specialized Sirrus range. Most people may notice this - many may not. A nice feature of the Elite is the smarter stem and handlebar.
There's little doubt that all these bikes are really good-looking. Some may even say beautiful. I think I would. All the colours are beautiful. Particularly eye-catching is the black/grey paintwork on the Sport. The welds are smooth, the tubing tapered and curved and with the cables routed inside the tubes, the effect is particularly elegant.
These are bikes aimed at those who want a fast commute to work and to get out on the open road at the weekend. There are plenty of gears to choose from - 21 or 24 - should be enough for anybody.
How do you choose between them? This is difficult to say really. For the money, the basic Sirrus is incredible value, but there's no doubt that you would probably feel and appreciate the increased smoothness of the aluminium and especially the carbon fork of the higher-specification models. If budget was unlimited, the Elite would probably be the choice. But money is rarely unimportant is it! The value-for-money represented by all these bikes should not be ignored. We think you'd be delighted to own and ride any of the Specialized Sirrus range.
Stephen Bailey is a keen cyclist and contributes extensively to online product review and information sites.
We have chosen to pick out three from the 2011 range - the Sirrus, Sirrus Sport and Sirrus Elite.
These are the features common across the range.
Moderate pricing. From £350 to £550 ($420 to $650) depending on the quality of the components.
The A1 Premium Aluminium frame is featured on all in the range.
All feature V-brakes with EZ Fire shifters, triple chainrings, double-wall rims with all-terrain tyres and flat pedals.
Perhaps the major component to show variation across the range is the front fork - steel blade on the Sirrus, aluminium on the Sport and carbon/aluminium on the Elite. The elastomer inserts on the Elite cut down further on road vibration. So your money pays for greater agility and smoothness together with a decrease in weight from 11.9 kg down to 10.6 kg.
In addition there's an increase in the quality of the Shimano drivetrain components across the Specialized Sirrus range. Most people may notice this - many may not. A nice feature of the Elite is the smarter stem and handlebar.
There's little doubt that all these bikes are really good-looking. Some may even say beautiful. I think I would. All the colours are beautiful. Particularly eye-catching is the black/grey paintwork on the Sport. The welds are smooth, the tubing tapered and curved and with the cables routed inside the tubes, the effect is particularly elegant.
These are bikes aimed at those who want a fast commute to work and to get out on the open road at the weekend. There are plenty of gears to choose from - 21 or 24 - should be enough for anybody.
How do you choose between them? This is difficult to say really. For the money, the basic Sirrus is incredible value, but there's no doubt that you would probably feel and appreciate the increased smoothness of the aluminium and especially the carbon fork of the higher-specification models. If budget was unlimited, the Elite would probably be the choice. But money is rarely unimportant is it! The value-for-money represented by all these bikes should not be ignored. We think you'd be delighted to own and ride any of the Specialized Sirrus range.
Stephen Bailey is a keen cyclist and contributes extensively to online product review and information sites.
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